--73.159.xxx.xx

If you have access to the electric box on top, try cleaning off the sensor(s) with a soft toothbrush. Also make sure the coin tray is touching the sensor switch correctly. Maybe it got bent or moved out of alignment from someone forcing it. --47.149.xxx.xxx

Some machines have coin drop where the velocity of coin determines if it is coin where the coin passes through a sensor which connects to the printed circuit board. Other machines have coin slide where once the slide goes to the end after the coins drop there it makes contact. Cleaning all electrical contacts and coin drop and coin slide helps sometimes with alcohol. Basically a Whirlpool top load machine is the same as a domestic top load with coin drop or coin slide where most machines have the same problem another problem to both machines is the door lid switch where the machine will not start if the switch does not make contact or switch is faulty. --74.220.xxx.xxx

I had a similar thing happen on a 4+ year old machine. I did what Me[CA] suggested & it's been fine ever since. --72.93.xxx.xx

My whirlpool coin machines have an 8 wide quarter slots, when you remove the coin drawer there is a plte under the coins with as many springs as you have active slots. these springs must be in place for the slots to operate, once you have the coin unit out and upsid down you will see what I am talking about, my machines originally came with 5 slots active - when I raised the price I began to have coin acceptor problems. --184.59.xxx.xx

I actually have an appliance person that was free tomorrow afternoon so I will get there in the morning and try that. If it works, I can call off the repair person. Thank you for the suggestion. I will pull out the installation guide/instructions tonight or watch a you tube. --73.159.xxx.xx

For around $125 you can get an expert to examine your machine and fix it for another $50. --47.155.xx.xxx

I'm not sure if it's actually needed but once a year I clean & spray the coin slides with a dry lubricant. I usually do this when I use my leaf blower to thoroughly clean out the exhaust duct work on the dryers. --72.93.xxx.xx

Steve, I think I should come be an unpaid apprentice to learn all that from you. --166.194.xxx.xx

Woohoo! It working! Thank you everyone! --73.218.xx.xxx

What did you end up doing to it? --47.149.xxx.xxx

I took the box top off, loosened the bolt, pulled the coin slide out, used a toothbrush on what I assume was the sensor, put it back in, tightened the bolt, threw some quarters in and it started. Not sure if the bolt needed tightening or the sensor needed a cleaning. Time will tell if it works long term. I didn’t really have the right tool for the bolt so when I get back from vacation I will go make sure it’s tight. For now, I need to batten down the sails on our sailboat before flying out tomorrow in case the hurricane hits with high wind and high waves. --166.194.xxx.xx

Can you remove that slide and touch that strike plate and see if the strike starts the activation switch? I had whirlpools and GEs for many years, but after about seven or eight years I slowly shifted over to speed queen. A speed queen didn't seem to break nearly as often but they were two and half time times more expensive. I went from having six washers and six driers down to four and four. In retrospect, I should have kept the six driers as I was making more money from the driers --24.101.xxx.xxx